Resultados y Discusión de Resultados

The results of the geophysical survey show a positive result for potential archaeology within the area of the outer bailey, and are discussed in depth below.

Results Grid One:

Grid one was located to the South East of the outer bailey area, measuring 10m x 10m with 1 meter transects and was surveyed in a zig-zag as stated by the methodology. Grid one was located directly north of the South Eastern folly and the folly acted as a base line for all the grids recorded.

Grid one was identified for positive potential archaeological anomalies which are detailed below.

01 – Linear anomaly running E-W, appearing to relate to 02 within Grid One

07 – A small sub circular area of low level resistance to the South of grid 1, anomaly appears independent with no visible relationships.

Grid Two:

Grid two was located directly north of Grid one, and triangulated from the South Eastern folly wall baseline. Grid two was identified as having potential archaeological anomalies, as outlined below.

02 – Curvilinear anomaly running NE/SW within Grid one, two and the SE corner of Grid three. 02 appears to have a potential relationship with 01.

Grid Three:

Grid three was located directly North of grid two and triangulated from the South Eastern folly wall baseline, Grid three has potential archaeological anomalies as listed below. 03 – Large rectangular anomaly spanning Grids two, three and four, with two areas of low resistance located at the SE divided by a high resistance linear; possibly relating to 02 at the Southern end but with no visual relationship to 05.

Grid Four:

Grid four was located directly north of Grid three, and triangulated from the South Eastern folly wall baseline. Grid four was identified as having potential archaeological anomalies, as outlined below.

04 – A sub rectangular area of low resistance located within Grid four with a single spike of high resistance located central to the anomaly bounded on all sides by high resistance readings, and no visible relationships.

05 – A curvilinear anomaly located in Grids four and five, with 2 areas of low resistance directly to the East and West at the southern point. The anomaly is orientated N/S and splitting to the east and west at its southern end, potentially holding a relationship to 04.

Grid Five:

Grid five was located directly North of grid four and triangulated from the South Eastern folly wall baseline, Grid five has potential archaeological anomalies as listed below

06 – A small area of high resistance located to the Ne of Grid five, adjacent to the anomaly 05 and orientated N/S. O6 holds no visible relationships.

Discussion

The geophysical survey at Halton Castle returned some potential anomalies which may relate to archaeological features within the outer bailey area. The results reflect that despite the high level of overburden soils, potential remains could be identified through the process of excavation. The anomalies which highlight the most potential are those of 02, 03 and 04; this is due to the scale of these anomalies and their high levels of resistance.

Excavation would be the recommended programme of further works for the identification of these anomalies and a suggested trench location plan has been included within the figures of this report. The recommendation is for four trenches to be excavated at strategic locations for the identification of anomalies and the confirmation of archaeological remains.

Trench one which could be located to the East of the outer bailey area, would be located over anomalies 02 and 03, with the aim to identify these anomalies and ascertain the levels of archaeological remains within this area.

Trench two which could be located to the North of the outer bailey area, would be located over anomaly 04, while also investigating an area of the outer bailey which appears unaltered on map regression. The aim of this trench would be the identification of anomaly 04.

Trench three which could be located to the North West of the outer bailey area, along the curtain wall would be positioned with an aim to investigate an area of the outer bailey which could not be surveyed due to modern inclusions (fencing and gating) but which never the less, may hold potential archaeological remains.

Trench four, which could be located within the North of the inner bailey, close to the curtain wall, would also be positioned to investigate an area which was no viable for geophysical prospection.

In conclusion, based on the positive results of this survey it is highly recommended that further investigation by excavation is conducted with the aim of identifying of the anomalies recorded.

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01

02

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The image above shows the Grid squares used during the geophysical survey of Halton Castle, along with the areas of potential archaeological anomalies as outlined in the above report. The image shows the earth resistance results as both a shade graph and a dot density plot, with each anomaly highlight on both graphs.

Grid 5 Grid 4 Grid 3 Grid 2 Grid 1 Grid 5 Grid 4 Grid 3 Grid 2 Grid 1

The above image is the suggested locations for the recommended trenching, if excavation was to be conducted at Halton Castle, based on the results of the geophysical survey.

Tr 1 Tr2 Tr3 Tr 1 Tr2 Tr 4 Tr3